Chapter 22 #2
Liam wasn’t sure if spanking would be a regular thing for him.
He’d loved it and had been close to cumming just from Austin’s hand, but now whenever he sat down he got a sharp pain in his hole from being fucked three times, and every time he moved, his cheeks stung as well.
Liam needed a rest tonight, and he was also long overdue to spend some time with his dad.
He’d asked Liam if they could have Sunday lunch together at the Stag and Lantern.
His dad wasn’t much of a cook, and the last thing Liam wanted to do after six early mornings in the bakery was cook.
It would be good for them to spend some time together.
Gerard showed Liam to his table, and his dad immediately jumped up and gave him a hug.
“That’s what you look like.”
“Hilarious, Dad. I literally see you most days, I just don’t sleep at home.”
They took their seats, and his dad was smiling.
“It’s nice to see you so happy, son. Your mum would have loved to see you with Austin. She always spoke very highly of him.”
“Thanks. I just wish she were here to see it.”
His dad took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze.
“I know, but if she were here, you two might not have met.”
“I think we still would have. It’s not like I never visited.”
“Yeah, but he wouldn’t have wooed you for three months before you finally gave in.”
“How do you know that?”
“I might have been moping in the house, but I still knew what was going on with you.”
“You mean Giselle kept you updated.”
“Yes.”
They both laughed.
“You weren’t moping, Dad. You were grieving for losing your soulmate.”
“And you lost your mum.”
Liam felt his eyes water. He didn’t know they’d be having this conversation tonight, or he would have suggested they stay home.
“Hey. None of that. We both lost her, and we dealt with it in our own ways. You’re more like her than me. She would have kept going and grieved in private. She would have come to me for support when she needed it, just like you’ve done with Austin.”
“Has Giselle bugged me or something?”
His dad smiled before he reached behind himself and passed Liam an A4-sized brown envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Open it and find out.”
Liam opened the envelope. It took him a few seconds to see what it was, and he wasn’t sure what it meant.
“This is the deed to the bakery,” said Liam.
“Yes, and it’s your bakery now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been working on your mum’s estate over the last few weeks with the solicitor. She left you her half of the bakery, and when I go you’d have gotten my half as well. I’m just giving it to you now.”
“Why?” He couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“The bakery was your mum’s dream. If she was happy, then I was happy. It’s your dream now. You should make it your own.”
“But what about you?”
“I paid off the mortgage with the life insurance, and there’s some left to do something else with.”
“Like what? Are you going to start a new business?”
“At my age? No chance. We always planned to travel once you took over the bakery. We wanted to do this world cruise that leaves from Southampton and hits every continent. Well, it’s a sail past Antarctica, but I want to do that.”
“That sounds amazing. When is it?” asked Liam, unable to keep the panic out of his voice.
“It leaves every three months, so there are a few options. I think August would be best, as that means I’ll be back for Christmas.”
“That doesn’t seem far away,” said Liam, keeping his voice neutral. He didn’t like where this conversation was going.
“August isn’t definite. It’s just the only date this year that would work. I want to be here for your mum’s birthday in June, and . . . well . . . Christmas will be . . .”
His dad’s words trailed off, and Liam knew what he meant.
Christmas would be hard enough without her, as she was like Mrs Claus, but it would always be marred, as that was when she’d died.
Liam wasn’t sure what to say. His dad looked the happiest he’d been since his mum died, and he didn’t want to dampen that, but to not only step away completely from the bakery, but to leave for three months, and so soon after she’d died .
. . Was Liam being selfish? His dad needed something for himself.
Liam understood that. He had Austin and Maisie.
It wasn’t like he was going to be on his own when his dad went on his travels.
So why did it feel like he was losing another parent?
Liam was being ridiculous, he knew that, but it had thrown him.
He needed to move the conversation away from his dad going on the cruise.
“Are you sure about the bakery, Dad? I’d love us to run it together.”
“You don’t need me in the way. I know you and that business brain of yours. There are probably a million ideas already running through your mind.”
Liam couldn’t help but smile. There were things he’d thought about over the years – ways he could make better use of the space, offer online orders, and more product options – but it had been his parent’s business, so he hadn’t made any big suggestions, just new cake ideas.
“I have one last business decision I’m going to make before you sign those deeds.”
“What’s that?”
“Hire some more staff. I checked the books, and you can promote Chloe to manager, hire two more people, and still be turning a healthy profit.”
Liam couldn’t stop the tears from falling. He was so happy to see his dad smiling again, and the bakery was his dream, but he couldn’t help but feel sad it would no longer be a family business. Not in the way it always had been.
“I’m not changing the name,” said Liam.
“I think there’d be a mutiny in the village if you did that.”
Liam laughed before getting up to give his dad a hug.
He felt more like his old self, which Liam had missed the past few months.
Liam still wasn’t sure about the idea of owning the bakery by himself and his dad going off to sail the seas, but his emotions were too high to think about it all now.
He didn’t want to say something he’d regret and risk upsetting his dad when he was in such a good mood.
Right now, he could keep his feelings to himself, and they could enjoy a delicious Sunday dinner together.